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Amsterdam is a very loved and lovable city, where one can come back anytime, independent of the season, as it has a lot to offer.
Besides the wonderful architecture, museums and art exhibitions, channels filled with history, large open spaces and parks all around, are also a big part of Amsterdam’s charm.
For the landscape art lovers, walking through Amsterdam is an experience for the senses, either in the newly built residential areas or in the historical centre of the city, open spaces are present through the entire city, blending with the skyline, either as hanging vegetation or planters, small or large natural ones that spread as much as one can see, awing and humbling the senses.
Vondelpark
Vondelpark is one of the oldest and best-known parks in the Netherlands, recognized as part og the national patrimony. It spreads through an area of 47 Ha, being inaugurated in 1977, designed by Jan David Zocher and Jan David I Zocher in an English romantic style. Throughout the time, the park has gone through a series of changes, lately it being restored by the public administration, which emphasizes the park, while maintaining the original design. This aspect makes you disconnect with all the hustle of the city and this naturalistic aspect giving the impression of a real forest.
The natural composition of vegetation, the lakes and the pedestrian flow invites you to discover every little corner of this green oasis. Home to more than 150 species like the Weeping willow, Maple trees, Chestnut trees and the Plantain, a large number of perennial plants and different types of ornamental grasses with a very inviting colour palette and minimum maintenance, these all transform the park in a magical surrounding. The rich and diverse flora, as highlighted in the left photo, attracts a worthy fauna, in such a manner that the tree canopies have become a home for many bird species, including several species of parrots. Large extensions of grasslands are ideal hiding places for rabbits and hedgehogs and the ponds are thriving with all the different fish species.
Sustainability
The materials used for the pedestrian footpaths are exclusively natural (ground, gravel or sand) thus creating a perfect harmony for the visitors, while avoiding artificial materials such as concrete or asphalt.
Amsterdam Bos
Another mesmerising open space is Amsterdam Bos, roughly translated as Amsterdam’s Forest. Even though nothing is placed randomly, the location and the natural aspect given by the freestyle of this park, creates the illusion of a real forest. The Park, dating since the 1930s and being completely finished in the 1970s, covers an area of circa 1000Ha, an area three times bigger than New York’s Central Park.
It is a leisure area ideal for long bicycle rides, hosting many sport areas, lakes, ponds, memorial statues and an unimaginable flora and fauna (see right photo). The alleys are designed in such a manner that you can find narrow to large passages, everything bonding in perfect harmony, while not disturbing the environment. Certain areas of the park stand out by accommodating free range mammals let loose, helping the maintenance of the pastures and maintaining a wholesome aspect. It is astonishing how in the same park you can enjoy large pastures, sunny beaches and a cool and shadowy forest.
Residential areas and the city center
Besides these two more than famous parks, you can also find a great range of open spaces at every pace, in the residential areas as well as in the suburban housing zones. Every house has its own front garden, larger or smaller, either with a very well maintained look to a laissez-faire, wild style.
The most impressing landscape design can be found in the middle to high class areas, where one can discover the interest that the inhabitants give to their gardens.
In perfect harmony, the residential gardens, combined with the architectural style, defined by discrete visual cues, these elements confer elegance to the housing areas, predominantly surrounded by decorative plants, shrubs and trees, the only touch of colour being offered by the Hydrangeas.
As we are heading towards the city centre, the vertical gardens are starting to highlight the scene . The hanging plants such as ivy, are climbing the trademark brick buildings.
And, as we stroll trough the city, we get to see the lovely waterways and channels, decorated with hydrophilic plants and vivid geranium planters.
Written and photographed by land. arch. Dalina Mihai, part of CADRO Landscape Studio Team